The Santa Clause

Synopsis

Divorcee Scott Calvin is disgusted to learn that his ex and her husband have tried - and failed - to break it easy to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa isn't real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas... then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When he's startled by Scott's calling out and falls, the Santa impersonator disappears, leaving only an 8-reindeer sleigh and a suit with instructions to put it on if he's involved in an accident. Scott does, and is transported around the town dropping gifts through chimneys until he's taken to the North Pole and informed by a group who claim they're elves that he is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad's new job, though Scott's convinced it's a dream. Until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably, even for his sudden love of junk food... Now he's accepted it, there's just one problem: how to keep it secret from his disbelieving family?

Divorcee Scott Calvin is disgusted to learn that his ex and her husband have tried - and failed - to break it easy to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa isn't real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas... then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When he's startled by Scott's calling out and falls, the Santa impersonator disappears, leaving only an 8-reindeer sleigh and a suit with instructions to put it on if he's involved in an accident. Scott does, and is transported around the town dropping gifts through chimneys until he's taken to the North Pole and informed by a group who claim they're elves that he is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad's new job, though Scott's convinced it's a dream. Until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably, even for his sudden love of junk food... Now he's accepted it, there's just one problem: how to keep it secret from his disbelieving family?

Tech specs

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by jhclues 8 / 10

A touching, light-hearted Christmas story

Ever wonder, who is Santa Claus, really? Where does he come from, how old
is he? How in the world does he squeeze down a chimney, and how does he get
in if there isn't a chimney? What's the deal here? Well, happily, the
answers to these questions and more are finally answered, as the legend of
Santa Claus comes to life as never before in `The Santa Clause,' directed by
John Pasquin and starring Tim Allen. Scott Calvin (Allen) is an executive
with a toy manufacturing company, he's divorced and has a young son, Charlie
(Eric Lloyd), who still believes in Santa, but is at an age at which doubt
is beginning to creep into the picture. And the fact that Charlie's mom,
Laura (Wendy Crewson) has a boyfriend, Dr. Neal Miller (Judge Reinhold), who
is a psychiatrist, isn't helping the situation any. Neal, it seems, is
adamant about counseling Charlie in the realities of life, which of course
includes the real scoop on Santa, which doesn't go over too well with Scott.

Then on Christmas Eve, which Charlie is spending with Scott, a strange
thing happens. There's a clatter on the roof, and Scott rushes outside to
investigate, where he discovers a man in a red suit clamoring about on the
roof of his two-story house. As Scott watches, the man loses his footing
and falls into the snow on the front lawn. And to Scott's amazement, it's
Santa Claus! Or at least a guy dressed up like Santa, and he's not in very
good shape at the moment. Lying there on his back, the man hands Scott a
card with instructions written on it about what to do in this particular
situation. `Put on the suit,' it says, `The reindeer will know what to do.'
And when Scott looks back up at the roof, what he sees concludes what Neal
would probably call an SEE (Significant Emotional Experience), and though he
doesn't realize it at the moment, his life is about to change
forever...

And with that, Pasquin goes on to tell the story of Scott Calvin's amazing
odyssey, which puts a humorous, and at times poignant, spin on this
contemporary and highly imaginative rendition of the Santa Claus story,
which offers much more than merely a fresh face on an old tale. The Santa
angle has that universal appeal that will attract viewers initially, but
what makes this story really accessible is the reality which lies beneath
the fantasy. The relationships examined in this film-- the whole situation
with Scott, Charlie, Laura and Neal-- are quite common in our modern world,
and that obstacle in the lives of these characters puts a necessary balance
in the story that makes it more than just another Christmas fantasy. It
puts an edge on the sentimentality that would've been over-the-top had
Scott, for example, been a happily married man with a text book family life.
That would've been good for maybe a one hour T.V. special on a Tuesday
night, whereas this story and the way it's presented is unique and lends
itself well to full length motion picture status.

When you think of Tim Allen, you don't necessarily think in terms of Santa
Claus-- his Tim Taylor, `Home Improvement' persona is simply too
far-reaching (there are, in fact, some `in' jokes sprinkled subtly
throughout this film, like when Scott, in Santa's workshop, picks up a toy
tool belt and holds it up to himself)-- but it actually becomes a positive
here, and another part of the appeal of this film. it establishes Scott as
a real person, an average guy attempting to cope with the everyday problems
of everyday life. And it keeps the core of the story grounded, which
ultimately makes the fantasy work while giving it heart. So, in retrospect,
Allen was a perfect choice for the role of Scott Calvin, and in the long run
this just may turn out to be one of his most memorable roles (which is
somewhat ironic, as this was Allen's big screen debut), because this is
certainly the kind of film that is bound to make a lot of people's annual
`holiday movies to watch' list, falling into that category of films you can
watch over and over again every Christmas season, like `A Christmas Story.'
`Christmas Vacation,' `A Christmas Carol' and `It's A Wonderful Life.' All
films which, though certainly diverse, have at their center the spirit of
Christmas along with family values and traditions, and all told in a way
that enables the viewer to readily identify with the characters and the
story, which is exactly what this film does.

Eric Lloyd turns in a good performance as Charlie, making his character
believable while keeping him positive despite the conflicts which surround
him, and Crewson and Reinhold are solid in their respective roles, as well.
But in supporting roles, the standout performances come from David
Krumholtz, as Bernard, Santa's Head Elf, and Paige Tamada, who is endearing
as Judy, the Little Elf.

Rounding out the supporting cast are Peter Boyle (Mr. Whittle), Mary Gross
(Miss Daniels), Larry Brandenburg (Detective Nunzio), Judith Scott (Susan),
Jayne Eastwood (Judy, the Waitress) and Joyce Guy (Principal Compton). An
entertaining and ultimately uplifting movie, `The Santa Clause' is funny and
enjoyable and has a lot to offer in the way of family entertainment, the
kind of film adults and kids alike are going to appreciate. And it may even
make you believe in some things you hadn't even considered before-- but
that's for you to figure out as you watch the movie. And that's the magic
of the movies. I rate this one 8/10.

Reviewed by Monika-5 5 / 10

A Christmas favorite

I remember the first time I saw the trailer for The Santa Clause. It was during the previews for The Lion King. As soon as the camera panned up from the snow globe to reveal Tim Allen, all the people in the theater began to laugh. This is a great, wholesome, funny flick that grown-ups and kidlets both can enjoy. Tim Allen was perfect to play the dad who becomes Santa, and I love when he burned the roast! I also thought the actor who played Bernard the elf was very funny and stole every scene he was in. And I especially enjoyed Judge Reinhold's turn as Neal Miller. I love the scene where he finally gets the hot dog whistle he'd wanted since he was a kid! Great holiday fun!